Page 441 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Iain leaned back in his chair. “There were things our good priest said. To be honest, it was your part in the matter that remained unknown to me. Had you not left this letter, I might never have known.” He paused. “I assume you will not consider giving up the brandy?”

Thomas shrugged.

“Aye, then,” Iain said. “You may as well pour us both one.”

* * *

“Nay,” Victoria whispered with a stern shake of her head as Liam opened the door to her chambers. She stepped inside the antechamber, waited until he entered, then closed the door behind him. “I will not keep it from him. God help me if he ever found out. I have already kept silent too long. Either you tell him,

Liam Fraser, or I will do it for you.”

“Now, lassie—”

“Do not think to soothe me with your sweet talk, Father. And you had best make short work of the matter, or you will be explaining to my husband why I call you that in public.” She ignored the flush that rose in his cheeks.

“You would not do that,” he said in a near whisper.

Victoria crossed her hands beneath her breasts. “I would, and very soon.”

He turned even paler.

“Liam, if you had not been there the day I made the discovery, I would have confessed all to him.” She smiled gently. “You cannot expect me to keep the

knowledge from him?”

“Do you realize this could shake not only the foundation of the Fraser and MacPherson clans, but Clan Chatten as well?”

“I understand ’tis powerful.” She crossed to the chaise lounge near the window and sat down. “There is no denying that.”

“Aye. And that being the case—”

“Liam,” she cut in, “do you think we have the right to keep it from him?”

Liam strode to where she sat and sank down beside her. He sighed. “I suppose you are right.”

“It is not so bad as all that, is it?”

“The lad will be pleased to hear the news. We have been enemies a long time.”

“Nay,” Victoria said. “You and Eric were enemies.”

“Aw, lassie,” he said, “’tis the same thing.”

* * *

Victoria watched the two men from the solitude of the couch. Liam sat motionless in the chair opposite Iain’s desk. Iain hadn’t moved, other than to turn the pages of the journal. At his muttered, “Christ,” she knew he understood the full meaning of the document.

A muscle in his jaw jumped and he looked up.

“I am sorry, Iain,” Liam said.

“Why?” Iain asked. “Because the man I thought was my father was not, or because the one who is my father I have been fighting my entire life?” He shook his head. “I cannot regret the first. Eric was never a father to me.”

“And the latter?”

Iain laughed harshly. “Seems fate has found her revenge.”

“We have all paid,” Liam said.

“Including Eric,” Victoria said, drawing the attention of both men. “He threw away the most precious thing of all.”

Iain smiled grimly. “He did, but I will not. My life is yours. They belong to you, every one.” He extended a hand.

“They?” She rose and came to him.

He took her hand in his.

“Aye, love. All my tomorrows.”

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